Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-04-09
POOR sOPHANIsBE.


though ahe were our own flesh and blood
instead Of being e serVant-Our cock.
geamstreas aud housekeeper, all IN one.
She might have been young and
pretty once, but all that was left to tell
the tale Of any past beauty were the
Borrowing, dark eyes and the tail, straight
figure which bent and sWayed like the
young pine trees out there In the forest
For a long time we didn't know that
5ophanisbe had been married till one
day, when so much talk was going on
about the war that was coming TO dsvas-
tate our country, she asked eagerly for
thsnRmes Of those who had enlisted, and
when she read over the list she cried ex-
citsdly:
"Ady son, my boy, has gone to be a
scldierp'
'Her son." we said, in awe-struck
whisper; where was her husband-Why
hadn't she told us about It before 20
But the pale lips we're shut forever on
the story Of her past. Perhaps poor
SOphsnisbe's husband had died young
or had deserted her; and perhaps at al
events she had 3 son, and he had en-
listed.
We always brought the papers to
Sophansibe as soon as they came, and
together, by the bright kitchen fire, We
would read the thrilling accounts Of ter
ribls battles.
Once when we read about a brave
young soldier who had stood his ground
yaliantly and put TO shame his cOWardly
comrades, SOphanisbe herself seized the
paper and read aloud In a quivering,
cholng voice, which broke with eIultant
sOba-
THAT was like my Ha1nish, % she whis-
Pered ioyfully, and as we gazed into her
excited face our eyes filed with tears OF
sympathy.
Then We knew that Hamish was the
name Of Sophanisbe's son, and many
were the times We wondered how he
would look, and rsckOned on a trium-
plant home coming. We pictured
Hamlsh riding on a gaily cOmparisOned
white horse, dressed In green velvet
trunk hose, glittering with silver and
gold fringe, pink silk tights, and red
satin boots. (Our lively imagination
had been assisted by the gorgeous fig
ure OF the leading hOrsemRn IN a circus
which had passed through the town a
short time befOre).
IL we wondered why no letters came
assuring each other that Hamish was too
busy fighting to have time to write to
anybody. And though we often won
dersd that Sophanisbe should have been
separated from her son for so long and
never even mentioned his name, of
course that was her affair, and our pry-
ing eyes could not see beyond that bOun-
Diary.
We came in one day, struggling for
which should be first to hand Sophan-
isbe the papers and watch how eagerly
she tore aside the wrappings.
We had all been anxious to hear the
latest news from the battle, but SOphan-
isbe must be first, because Hamish was
there.
We were standing about her at a re-
speetful distadce, waiting for some sign
Of victory, but the white face bent lower
and lower, though never a sound came
from her pale, still lips. The cold hand
grasPed the paper convulsively, and one
long slim finger seemed to point to the
foremost name among tie dead:
"Hamish O'Brien, private company
u. Ninety-sizth regiment"
Very tenderly she was carried to her
own little room, and for days We were
silent in our play, and lowered anxious
ly near the door, vaguely feeling that
she must know that we were there, hop
ing and longing to see her.
AT length she arose from her sick bed,
very pale and weak, but very firm, and
went quietly about her work as though
nothing had happened. We sometimes
spoke OF Hamish, but never within hear
nag Of SOphanisbe.
One evening a tramp opened the back
gate and hmped painfully up to the
house. His clothes were In rags, and a
long, tangled, brown beard covered
nearly tie whole OF his face. One arm
was IN a sling, and he was very lame.
SOphanisbe saw him, and perhaps It
was feeling Of pity that made her face
flush so hotlY and her eyes blaze stars.
She went to the door first, We follow
ing close. The tramp had large, visit
ful eyes, and as SOphanisbe stood look
ing dreamily at him he sunk into a tat
tered heap at her feet. crying pitifully:
''Oh, mother, mOtherl dent yOu know
ueP'
And in a moment she had raised him
and helped him into the kitchen, where
he laid his head on her bosom and cried
like child
So this was Hamishl All our visions
had been swept away at one blow, but
We were oVsrjoyed that Hamish was not
dead. He said that such mistakes oc-
Cured sometimes In the reports, and We
were prepared, for Sophanisbe's sake, to
take Hamish into our hearts and cherish
him tenderly.
Hamish was exhausted for want OF
food, but after he had washed and shaved
on some Of his golden brown beard he
was a very handsome fellow, especially
when arrayed in a neat, plain suit, which
though creased IN many places from &
long residence In SOphanisbe's odd OLD
chest, was still clean and neat
We had never seen SOphanisbe look &c
radiantly happy since we had known
her, and We thought that, after all, Ham
ish might turn out to be a prince in dis
guise. Such wonderful stories be would
relate, and so many hair-brsadth escapes
he had madel
aAh, Hamishl You wore the little
charm gave you, ever so long ago
that is what carried you through" said
Sophanisbe, sagely.
"Have you got, it now, boyg' she
alked.
Hamish stammered and looked AROUND
as if for inspiration.
"rhe charm, you know, IN the little
leather bag" she exclaimed.
''Oh, yes, yes" he cried evidently 70